Coupler-lock-releasing device



'Nov. 16 1 926.

F. M. WHYTE coumm LOOK umsInens-ucs Filed I 1. 1925 2 Shuts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nbv. 16, 1926.

' 1,607,419 F. M. WHYTE. COUPLER LOCK RELEASING DEVIbE Filed May 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lfiVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

FREDERIC M. WHYTE, F TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK.

COUPLER-LOCK-RELEASING DEVICE.

Application filed May 1,

The invention relates to mechanisms for raising the lock lift of car couplers and it has for its main object the provision of a simple mechanism which may be operated either as a lever or as a rock shaft forlifting the lock lift.

There are other important objects and advantages of the invention which will fully hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

F ig. l is plan view showing the invention applied to the end of a car;

Fig. 2 a front elevation of a portion of the end of a railway freight car showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 3 a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. i a detail perspective View of the bracket on which the releasing device is mounted Fig. 5 a detail perspective View of the removable keeper which locks the releasing device to its supporting bracket;

Fig. 6 a detail perspective view of the main releasing lever;

F 7 a detail perspective view of the supplemental releasing lever;

Fig. 8 a plan view of a slightly modified form of the device wherein the release device operates only as a rock shaft;

Fig. 9 a front elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 8;

F 10 a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9; and r v Fig. ll a detail perspective view of the supporting bracket shown in Figs. 8 and 9 Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates a portion of a freight car body to which the coupler and its contained knu'kie, (not shown) is attached in any suitable manner. The coupler knuckle is usually locked in its coupled position by a lock lift 2. This lock lift must be lifted to release the coupler knuckle. This is common practice and it is thought to be unnecessary to illustrate the coupler and the coupler knuckle.

The release mechanism shown in j the drawing consists of a main release'lever 4, which is mounted in and supported by a bracket sec lred to the outer face of the car body at the end of the car. As shown in the drawings the bracket 5 is placed about midway, between the vertical center straight horizontal tion 21. v

1925. Serial No. 27,192.

of the car and the left side thereof as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The bracket 5 may be formed of sheet metal bent into proper shape or a casting. The sheet metal bracket comprises the forwardly projecting vertical central part 6 which is formed by bending the metal back upon itself to form the two webs 7 spaced a suitable distance apart to form the central vertical channel 8 of suitable width. The central part 6 is cut out on its forward end midway between the upper and lower edges of the webs 7 to form the central bearing slot 9 and the upper retaining finger l0 and the lower bearing fin- 11. The inner ends of the web 7 are bent laterally to form the flat or straight securing flanges 12 through which the securing bolts 13 are passed said securing flanges 12 giving a broad and secure bearing against the outer face of the car sill. The outer free edges of the securing flanges 12 are bent forwardly to form the stop flanges Li and 1 5. The main bodies of said flanges extend forwardly in a vertical plane parallel with the vertical planes of the ve bs 7 along opposite sides thereof and spaced a suitable distance laterally therefrom. The forward edge of the stop flange 14 is cut back horizontally to form the reb cess l6 and an upper limiting stop 17. The lower horizontal edgeof the recess 16 is provided with an outwardly extending horizontal rest finger 18, the upper surface of said f'nger being in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the central hearing finger 11. The flange is cut back to form. the stop shoulder 19. Below the shoulder 19 the lower portion of the flange 15 is bent laterally to form the vertical abutment or stop flange 20.

The main lever 4 is formed with a journal and fulcrum por- Integral with the fulcrum portion 21 is formed a projection 3 which is adapted to be placed in the central channel 8 between the webs 7 0f the bracket, said projection by its engagement with the webs 7 limiting the longitudinal movement of the lever 4; in

either direction. At the outer end of the fulcrum portion the lever is bent downwardly to form a stop arm 22 which is adapted to engage the front face of the abutment 20, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. From the lower end of the stop arm the lever 4; inclines downwardly and outwardly approximately to the side of the'car and its outer end may then be bent downwardly to form an operating handle The inner end of the fulcrum part 21 is bent forwardly to form a normally horizontal crank arm 24:. The forward end of this crank arm is bent back upon itself to form a guide loop 25, and is then again bent to form a bearing loop 26, the extreme end of the lever being then bent backwardly to point under the crank 24: to form an interlocking'tonguo 2?. This tongue in its interlocking position ongages the side of the bent part of the lever between the bearing loop 26 and the guide loop 25, the end of the tongue engaging the under side of the crank 24:. vlhen the tongue is in its interlocking position it locks a supplemental lever pivotally to the looped end of the main lever.

he supplemental lev r 28 near its outer end is bent into inverted-U-shape to form a journal loop 29. Tl e arm 30 of this loop extends down through the bearing loop 26 while the arm 31 thereof extends down along the outer side of said bearing loop and is connected to the main body of the lever. The lower end of the arm 30 of the bearing loop is bent laterally horizontally substantially in axial alinement with the body of the lever to form the interlocking arm 32 which is adapted to extend under the inwardly bent portion of the main lever between the bearing loop and the guide loop. The end of the arm 32 is bent upwardly to form the substantially vertical neck 33 which projects upwardly through the guide loop 25; and on the upper end of this neck is formed a guide head which rides on the uiper surface of the crank 2a. The free inner end of the supplemental lever passes through the eye of the coupler lock litt 2 and the end is bent into a hook To pet'- mit the supplemental lever to be engages in the looped end the e a ll: of the main lever the interlocking tongue is first bent laterally to the position shown in dotted lines in 1. The supplemental lever is then urranged with the journal loop in the bearing loop of the main lever and the head 34 resting on the upper surface of the crank arm 24-. The interlocking tongue 27 is then bent back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to lock the supplemental lever to the main lever.

The fulcrum portion 21 oi the main lever s placed in the slot 9 and rests on the bearng linger 11 with the arm 22 in engagement with the stop dange 20. The fulcrum part of the lever will extend under the stop shoulder 19 and will rest on the finger 18. A retaining pin 36 is passed downwardly through the channel 8 forward of the main lever to thereby lock the lever in the bearing slot 9. The retaining pin is provided with a transverse vertically extending slot 37 and said pin is held to the ret aining linger 10 by a rivet 38 which passes through the webs 7 and through the slot 37. The retaining pin is held in its lower locking or retaining position by means of a removable cotter pin 39 which passes through the two webs or sides of the bearing lineer 11 and through the lower part of the slot o7. ihc upper end of the pin 36 is provided with a head ll) which rests on the upper part ot the finger l0 and torms a convenient means for grasping and lifting the pin when it is desired to tree the main lever. The permanent ri i. pin 38 pcrman .itly locks the retaining pin to the braket while the removable cotter pin locks the retaining pin in its lower locking position. By removing the cotter pin the retaining pin may be raised sul'liciently to release the main lever which may then be bodily removed from its "upports. The main lever and the supplemental lever will be held normally in a substantiellv horizontal position by the bearing linger ii, the rest linger 18 and the stop shouller 19.

lVhen the parts are assembled the preponderance or weight on the crank arm 2%;

cannot carry this arm downwardly below its normal position because of the engagement of the stop arm 22 with the abutment 20. The fulcrum part 21 of the main lever is held substantially horizontal and in engagement with the rest finger 18, the hearing finger 11 and the stop shoulder 19. l he device may be rotated on its points of support to operate as a crank, or it may rocked on the bearing finger to act as a lever. l t hen it is desired to operate the device as a crank for raising the lock lift the handle 23 is grasped and pulled torwardly and upwardly thereby rotating the main lever on the fulcrum portion 21 thereof. The crank arm 24: will be swung up Wal'dly and the lock li'tt raised through the supplemental lever connection. To operate the device as a lever the outer end of the main lever, that is to. say the handle part, is depressed, thereby rocking the main lever on the bearing linger 11. The inner end of the fulcrum portion 21 is free to swing upwardly until it engages the limiting stop 1?. When the device is released it automatically returns to its normal substantiallv horizontal position. The preponderance J: weight at the end of the crank arm 2% will automatically return the device to horizontal position and the engagement of the stop arm 22 with the abutment 20 will. prevent the arm 2e from tailing below its normal release position. The abutment 20 serves as a means to prevent an inward swinging movement of the handle part 23 of the main lever so that the main lever can out rotated in the proper direction to errect 2: raising of the lock lift. 7

The pivotal connection between the supwhen mounted as illustrated in said figures] As shown'ln Flgs, l to 7 inclusive the main.

lever has a rotative movement and also a vertical tilting movement. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusivethe retaining pin 36 detachably locks the main lever in the bearing slot of the bracket. 1t is to be noted that the main lever is carried out horizontally to the side of the car. As this lever is mounted for rotation only it is unnecessary to incline it outwardly and downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2, although it may be so inclined.

From the foregoing it is clear that the device may be readily manufactured and assembled. 1 The removal of the single retaining pin 36 frees the main and supple mental levers from the supporting bracket.

lVhat I claim is: I

1. A releasing device for car coupler loci-1s comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum portion near its inner end, its outer end extending substantially tothe side of the car, a single central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever and to serve as the main support for the lever and on which'said lever may be rocked to raise its inner endand also rotated on a horizontal axis, means to interengage the main support and lever to limit longitudinal movement of the lever, a rest finger at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely enga ed by the main lever to prevent downw movement of the inner end thereof, a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to be engaged thereby to prevent upw rd movement of the outer end thereof,

forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, a supplemental l ver connected to the outer end of the said crank arm, and means for connecting the inner end of said supplemental lever to'the coupler lock lift.

2. A releasing device for car coupler loo rs comprising a main lever having a sub ntially horizontal fulcrum portion near its inner end, its outer end extending substantially to the side of the car, a single central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion OfllllQ main'lever andrto sen-ens the 'niain support forthe lever and on which said lever may be rocked to raise its inner end and also rotated on a horizontal axis, a rest finger at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever to prevent downward movement of the inner end thereof, a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to be engaged thereby to prevent upward movement of the outer end thereof, movable means for detachably retaining the main lever on the said central bearing, a forwardly extend.

ing crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, a supplemental lever con nected to the outer end of the said crank arm, means for connecting the inner end of said supplemental lever-to; the coupler lock lift, and means to .prevent longitudinal.

movement of the main lever on its central bearing; i I

3. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a fulcrum portion nearits inner end, its outer end extendingsubstantially .to the side of the car, a single central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever and to serve as the main supportfor the lever and' on which said levermay be rocked to raise ltsinner end and also rotated on a horizontal axis, a rest lingerat one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever to prevent-downward movement of the inner end thereof, a stop shoulder onv the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to be engaged thereby toprevent upwardmovement of the outer end thereof,

movable means for 'dctachably retaining the main lever on the said central bearlng, a'forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main leverfand;

means flexibly connecting the outer end'of the crank'arm to the coupler locklift.

4t. Areleasing device forv car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially' horizontal fulcrum portion near its inner end, its outer end extending sul stantiallyto the side of'the car, a single central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever and to serve as the main support for the lever and on which said lever may be rocked to raise its inner end and also rotated on a horizontal axis, a rest finger at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever to prevent downward movement of the inner end thereof,a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above themain lever and adapted to be engaged thereby to prevent upward movement of the Sis outer end thereof, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, and means flexibly connecting the outer end of the crank arm to the coupler lock lift.

5. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever mounted upon the end of the car to be rotated about a horizontal axis and extending between the side of the car and the coupling, a forward ly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the lever the free end of said arm being formed into a guide loop, a bearing loop and an interlocking tongue, a supplemental lever formed with a journal loop engaged in the said bearing loop with a vertical neck extending up through the guide loop and with a guide head bearing on the upper side of the crank arm, the locking tongue holding said parts interlocked, and means connecting the free end of the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

6. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum portion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the car, a single central bearing adapted to losely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever and to serve as the main support for the lever and on which said lever may be rocked to raise its inner end and also rotated on a horizontal axis, a rest finger at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever to revent downward movement of the inner enc thereof, a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to be engaged thereby to prevent upward movement of the outer end thereof, means flexibly connecting the said main lever to the coupler lock lift, means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the main lever, and detachable means for retaining the main lever on the said central bearing.

7. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal journal portion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the car, a single central support for said lever formed with a longitudinal slot open at its front end to receive the fulcrum portion of the main lever, a vertical movable pin to close the front end of said slot and detachably hold the said lever rotatable therein, means to engage the lever at points spacedL from the retaining pin to hold the lever normally substantially horizontal, and means connecting the lever to the coupler lock lift.

8. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal journal portion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the car, a single central support for said lever formed with a longitudinal slot'open at its front end to receive the fulcrum portion of the main lever, a vertical movable pin to close the front end of said slot and detachably hold the said lever rotatable therein, means to limit the longitudinal movement of said lever, means to engage the lever at points spaced from the retaining pin to hold the lever normally substantially horizontal, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, a supplemental lever connected to and carried by the said crank arm, and means connecting the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

9. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a subs-tantially horizontal fulcrum portion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the car, a central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever, means to limit the longitudinal movement of the said lever, a rest at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely en-, gaged by the main lever, a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to'be ens gaged thereby, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever the free end of said arm being formed into a bearing loop, a supplemental lever formed wit-h a guide portion and with a journal loop engaged in said bearing loop, means for engaging the said guide portion to hold the supplemental lever in a substantially horizontal position and permit it toswing horizontally 011 the bearing loop, and means connecting the free end of the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

10. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum portion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the car, a central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fu crum portion of the main lever, means to limit the longitudinal movement of the said lever, a rest at one side of said central bearing and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever, a stop on the opposite side of the central bearing adapted to be engaged by the lever, whereby said lever may be rotated on a horizontal axis, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, the free end of said arm being formed into a bearing loop, a supplemental lever formed with a guide portion and with a journal loop engaged in said bearing loop, means for engaging the said guit e portion to hold. the supplemental lever in a substantially horizontal position and permit it to swing horizontally on the bearing loop, and means connecting the free end of the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

11. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum port-ion, one end of said lever extending substantially to the side of the. car, a central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever, means to limit the longitudinal movement of said lever, a rest at one side of said central bearing below the main lever and adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever, a stop shoulder on the opposite side of the central bearing above the main lever and adapted to be engaged thereby, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, the free end of said arm being formed into a guide loop, a bearing loop and an in: terlocking tongue, a supplemental lever formed with a journal loop engaged in the said bearing loop with a vertical neck ex tending up through the guide loop and with a guide head bearing on the upper side of the crank arm, the locking tongue holding said parts interlocked, and means connecting the free end of the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

12. A releasing device for car coupler locks comprising a main lever having a horizontal fulcrum part near its inner end, its outer end extending to the side of the car, a supporting bracket having a central bearing web and two side stop flanges, the central web being cut inwardly to form a. bearing slot to receive the fulcrum part of the main lever and one of the stop flanges being formed with a rest linger below the lever and adapted to be engaged thereby and a stop shoulder a considerable distance above the rest finger to limit the upward tilting movement of the inner end of the lever, the other stop flange being formed and inward rotation, a forwardly extending.

crank arm on the inner end of the main lever, means on the fulcrum part of the main lever adapted to engage the support ing bracket to limit the longitudinal movement of the lever, a supplemental lever pivotally connected to and carried by the said crank arm, and means connecting the free end of the supplemental lever to the coupler lock lift.

13.A releasing device for carcoupler locks comprising a main lever having a substantially horizontal journal portion near its inner end, its outer end extending substantially to the side of the car, a single central bearing adapted to loosely engage the said fulcrum portion of the main lever and to serve as the main support for the said lever and on which said lever may be rotated about a horizontal axis, means on opposite sides of the said central bearing adapted to be loosely engaged by the main lever to hold said fulcrum portion of the main lever normally in a substantially horizontal position, movable means for detachably retaining the main lever on the said central bearing, a forwardly extending crank arm formed on the inner end of the main lever, a vertical abutment, a clownwardly bent portion of the main lever adapted to engage said abutment to pre vent the said crank arm swinging normally below a substantially horizontal position, and means flexibly connecting theforward end of said crank arm to the coupler lock lift.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature.

FREDERIC M. WHYTE. 

